Governance and management of sustainability impacts

Deloitte Global Board of Directors

The Deloitte Global Board of Directors (Deloitte Global Board) addresses the most important governance matters within Deloitte Global, including approval of the strategic plan, annual budget, investment plans, major policies, and significant transactions. It also oversees the selection of the Deloitte Global CEO and the Deloitte Global Chair. In relation to sustainability impacts specifically, the Deloitte Global Board reviews Deloitte’s impact across society, including on the economy, the environment, and people. This includes, in alignment with MF Boards, providing governance over key impact areas including the development of Deloitte’s global environmental strategy, the process of setting global environmental and societal goals, reviewing ongoing performance toward these goals, and approving significant investments related to these goals by Deloitte Global. As a part of reviewing performance, the Deloitte Global Board annually assesses global environmental and societal performance against agreed goals and approves the disclosure of such performance in the annual Global Impact Report.

Sustainability impacts are managed locally by the relevant Deloitte firms and reported to Deloitte Global, enabling strategic alignment and effective execution across the Deloitte network.  

Purpose, Sustainability, and Culture Committee 

The Purpose, Sustainability and Culture Committee (PSCC) of the Deloitte Global Board provides dedicated governance and oversight in areas central to Deloitte Global’s strategic plan, including purpose and shared values, sustainability, talent, inclusion, and the cultural aspects of ethics, and monitors and provides support with respect to the associated Deloitte network-wide impacts. The PSCC meets regularly throughout the year, with environmental matters included on the scheduled agenda at least semi-annually; the PSCC Chair provides regular updates on these matters to the full Deloitte Global Board. The PSCC provides oversight of Deloitte Global’s environmental strategy and monitors progress toward the Deloitte network’s net-zero by 2040 goal. 

Risk and Ethics Committee (REC)

The Risk and Ethics Committee (REC) of the Deloitte Global Board oversees Deloitte Global’s risk management activities, which include two priority risks that address sustainability and environmental impacts. The REC reviews priority risks in the Deloitte Global Enterprise Risk Framework (ERF), and risk management activities for the Deloitte network. This includes an annual update of the ERF presented by the Deloitte Global Chief Risk Officer to both the Deloitte Global Executive Committee (the Executive Committee) and the REC. The REC Chair provides updates on these risks to the Deloitte Global Board at least annually. The REC also collaborates with the Audit, Finance, and Investment Committee of the Deloitte Global Board and the PSCC in overseeing the sustainability disclosures made by Deloitte Global. . 

Management of Sustainability Impacts

Deloitte Global CEO and Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is led by the Deloitte Global Chief Executive Officer (Deloitte Global CEO). 

The Deloitte Global CEO plays a pivotal role in developing the strategic plan for Deloitte Global and reviewing Deloitte’s impacts. This role includes driving Deloitte Global’s business strategy, and monitoring the impact on Deloitte clients, Deloitte people, and society including environmental sustainability and climate change. The Executive Committee develops Deloitte Global’s sustainability strategy and major commitments.

The Executive Committee is responsible for developing Deloitte Global's environmental sustainability strategy, for which the Deloitte Global Chief People and Purpose Officer (CPPO), and Chief Purpose and Sustainability Officer (CPSO) have primary responsibility. MFs align with Deloitte Global’s environmental sustainability strategy to the extent appropriate. The Deloitte Global Sustainability Business leader champions the strategic plan for client-facing sustainability services, with which Deloitte firms align, to the extent appropriate, in delivering services to Deloitte clients. At least annually, the Executive Committee discusses client service growth plans and investments, and reviews progress toward Deloitte’s environmental (including net-zero by 2040) and societal goals.

The Deloitte Global CPSO is responsible for working with Deloitte firms to support Deloitte’s WorldClimate ambitions and net-zero strategy, including Deloitte’s greenhouse gas inventory management, emission reduction goals, and external sustainability reporting. Advancing Deloitte’s net-zero transition plan, which requires comprehensive planning and coordination across the network, is a critical part of this effort. Deloitte’s supply chain is the largest source of global emissions for Deloitte, and therefore Deloitte Global’s Deputy Chief Procurement Officer oversees a dedicated sustainability team within procurement that directly supports Deloitte’s emission reduction efforts.

Together with the Deloitte Global CPPO, the Deloitte Global CPSO reports regularly to the Executive Committee, the PSCC, and the Deloitte Global Board on sustainability matters, including WorldClimate and net-zero performance metrics. 

Sustainability impacts are managed locally by the relevant Deloitte firms and reported to Deloitte Global, enabling strategic alignment and effective execution across the Deloitte network. Each Deloitte MF has an executive-level leader who is accountable for managing internal environmental matters, including monitoring greenhouse gas emissions and supporting net-zero actions. The reporting structure for these roles varies depending on the MF’s size but generally involves serving as a member of the MF’s executive body or reporting to a senior leader who is a member of an executive body. 

Global Purpose Executive (GPE) and Sustainability Advisory Council (SAC)

Deloitte’s commitment to making an impact that matters is reflected in its purpose-driven approach across the network. Deloitte’s purpose, environmental, and societal impact commitments are championed by the Global Purpose Executive (GPE) and the Sustainability Advisory Council (SAC). The GPE and SAC are network-wide leadership bodies chaired by the Deloitte Global CPPO and led by the Deloitte Global CPSO. The GPE and SAC are responsible for providing purpose/societal impact and environmental strategic recommendations to the Executive Committee respectively.

The GPE draws its membership from MF purpose leaders and representatives from Deloitte Global businesses and functions most impacted by purpose and societal impact related considerations, while the SAC membership is drawn from MF sustainability leaders and representatives from Deloitte Global functions directly involved in the delivery of the net-zero strategy. Focus areas of the GPE include coordinating and supporting programmatic initiatives around societal impact, while the SAC focuses on environmental matters, specifically the design and implementation of the Deloitte network’s net-zero by 2040 strategy.